by Shantel Lipp Shantel Lipp

Built on Grit

Shantel Lipp

As we approach fall, our minds start to adjust to a regular routine. School begins again, vacationers return from the cottage and our city streets start to get a little more crowded. For our industry, the routine does not change. It has been working hard throughout the season to ensure that road and infrastructure building and maintenance projects are done before winter. 

Our industry goes through many ebbs and flows throughout a construction season depending on what level of work and resources have been approved. However, one factor we have little to no control of is the weather. Working through inhospitable conditions is something the heavy construction industry must do to get the job done. Our working timeframes have always been set by mother nature. Our industry relies on many factors to succeed, but the one that remains essential is the grit that heavy construction workers possess. 

That is why the SHCA has recently launched a campaign called “Built on Grit.” The campaign highlights the work done by our industry and celebrates those who do the work. Built on Grit shows our industry is resilient and tough. The campaign also touts the benefits of considering a career in the heavy construction industry. 

Working in the heavy construction industry is a choice for many, and SHCA, working with our members, makes sure that our workforce is prepared and ready. Even though jobs in our industry can at times be challenging, we want to make sure every worker on a crew is given the best information and guidance to do the job right. Our industry’s investments in training programs and partnerships with educational institutions help address the demand for skilled workers. With the proper guidance and training, our industry workers will show their true grit in getting the job done. 

Built on Grit is more than a slogan. It lets people know there is a face behind building the infrastructure that we take for granted every day. It is also an acknowledgment of the toughness and resilience that defines our industry and the people who make it work. 

I encourage you to check out our Built on Grit campaign and let us know what you think. 

by SHCA SHCA

Ministry of Highways Partners with the Rural Municipality of Prince Albert

Prairie Road and School House Saskatchewan Canada

On Aug. 6, the Ministry of Highways provided an update on a partnership with the Rural Municipality (RM) of Prince Albert to cost share paving of the service road south of Prince Albert between Elevator Road and the junction of Highways 2 and 11. The service road will act as a truck route, reducing traffic crossing the median at the intersection of Highway 2 and Elevator Road.

“The Ministry of Highways is continuing to work closely with municipal governments to improve roadways through partnership agreements aimed at providing benefits to local traffic and the economy as a whole,” Highways Minister David Marit said. “Paving this service road will support both the local and provincial economies by fostering growth and improving safety.” 

The agreement between the RM and the ministry was signed in the spring. Surfacing work is estimated at $924,000, with the ministry contributing up to 50 per cent of the cost. The Ministry of Highways will perform all maintenance, except for winter maintenance.

“Investing in our road infrastructure is essential for the growth and quality of life in our community,” RM of Prince Albert Reeve Tyrel Tait said. “This project is one of a number of road upgrades the RM is undergoing that will not only improve heavy hauling, but also support local businesses by facilitating better transport routes.”

by SHCA SHCA

Weekly Orange Zone Construction Update Launch

Bright Orange Construction sign by the of a road

On Aug. 8, Highways Minister David Marit announced the launch of the new Weekly Orange Zone Construction Update. The Weekly Orange Zone Construction Update will be released every Friday at 10 a.m. This will give motorists access to the most recent changes, as well as information on how to find all Saskatchewan’s ongoing highway construction. Equipped with the most recent information, it will allow motorists to plan the quickest and safest routes to their destinations. 

“As I am reaching the halfway point of my province-wide summer road tour, I have been consistently hearing from communities I have visited that they want greater access to construction updates,” Marit said. “With the launch of the Weekly Orange Zone Construction Update, we will be able to highlight all new projects that are starting and show motorists where they can view all the ongoing highway construction in Saskatchewan.”

“Safety is our top priority – not just for the workers on the job, but for every driver passing through a construction zone,” SHCA president Shantel Lipp said. “We urge the public to slow down, stay alert and respect the signage and people working to maintain and build the roads we all rely on. Every cone, every sign and every reduced speed limit exists for one reason: to make sure everyone gets home safely at the end of the day.”

Additional details about key highway projects to help plan safe and efficient travel are available at saskatchewan.ca/orange-zone.

by SHCA SHCA

Summary of Updates to 200 – Test Procedures

A close-up view of a freshly paved road, showcasing the intricate texture and layers of asphalt, hinting at the ongoing urban development and infrastructure improvements in the area.

Please be advised that the following is a summary of updates posted to the Saskatchewan Publications website.

Item: STP 204-5-1 Handling, Storage and Transportation of Asphalt Concrete Core Samples 
Location: publications.saskatchewan.ca/#/products/126776 

Description of change: The new STP 204-5-1 Handling, Storage and Transportation of Asphalt Concrete Core Samples is intended to streamline the processes and methods use in handling, storage and transportation of core samples, as well as complement STP 204-5 Asphalt Concrete Samples Obtained by Coring. 

Contact: aziz.salifu@gov.sk.ca 

Item: Asphalt Concrete Core Samples Chain of Custody Form 
Location: publications.saskatchewan.ca/#/products/126777 

Description of change: The new Asphalt Concrete Core Samples Chain of Custody Form is intended to improve record keeping for core samples at the time the core is obtained from the road until it reaches the testing laboratory. 

Contact: aziz.salifu@gov.sk.ca

by Shantel Lipp Shantel Lipp

Funding for Road Infrastructure Must Increase

Shantel Lipp

A goal in life for many people is to become a homeowner. People save for years to achieve homeownership and once there, it is a great feeling. Not only did you buy something to keep you secure, but you also made an investment in your future. 

Unfortunately, homeownership today has become a difficult goal to reach as demand far outpaces supply, and those fortunate enough to be a homeowner know that in order to preserve what they own they have to maintain it or they lose their investment to decay and disrepair.  

The same can be said about our infrastructure. Without meeting the demand of new infrastructure from a growing population and economy, investment in the province starts to falter. Without proper upkeep, the roads and bridges that help move our province forward will become broken and nonfunctional. 

This past month, our friends at the Alberta Roadbuilders and Heavy Construction Association (ARHCA) raised the alarm that there is a financial disaster looming for road infrastructure. In their estimation, provincial funding cuts to highways and municipalities, and the impact from inflation, has resulted in a 50 per cent decrease to infrastructure budgets in Alberta. 

This is something that is happening across all jurisdictions in Canada, and Saskatchewan in not immune. 

The current level of funding for road infrastructure projects versus the level required to meet the demands of growth needs to be properly addressed. Saskatchewan’s population has been growing steadily since 2021, with the most recent estimates showing a population of 1,253,569 as of April 1, 2025. That number reflects an increase of 121,064 people added to the province since 2021.  

That number also showcases an increased demand on our highway infrastructure as there are more drivers using our roads and highways year over year. If our roads are not properly maintained from increased usage, then the cost shifts from road rehabilitation to road reconstruction, which is significantly greater. This also puts additional pressure on government to ensure that road-building and maintenance budgets remain consistent with the demand. 

The ARHCA also pointed out that cuts to the highway budget have a profound impact on the industry as a whole. By not reaching proper levels of funding, construction projects are deferred, which causes the industry to shed workers. Once projects pick up, those workers are no longer available as they have moved on to other jobs and industries.  

This also adds additional pressure to our industry, as companies have to invest in the training of employees who are new to heavy construction. Maintaining an experienced workforce is a challenge for many SHCA members. Keeping a road-building budget in line with the pace of growth will go a long way toward worker retention. 

Whether you are a new homeowner, business owner or a province keeping up to growth, the fact remains that investing in the future requires commitment.

by Shantel Lipp Shantel Lipp

Common Sense Practices Help Keep Our Workers Safe

Shantel Lipp

Construction season is once again upon us. For Saskatchewan, that means we must concentrate our efforts on building and maintaining our infrastructure through a limited window. That usually means it’s all hands on deck when it comes to the workforce needed to start and complete projects.

A road construction project is a busy place. Anyone who has driven on a Saskatchewan highway over the years would attest to this. Co-ordinating the flow of ongoing traffic while manoeuvring a piece of heavy equipment is a carefully choreographed process. One wrong move can mean the difference between life and death.

When it comes to safety, our industry is at the forefront of delivering the necessary training to ensure that anyone in the heavy construction industry can expect to work in a safe environment. It is often external factors that limit the industry’s ability to guarantee an accident-free work site.

In 2012, a young woman was working as a flag person on a road construction crew in the southeast corner of Saskatchewan. Her name was Ashley Dawn Richards, and she was 18 years old. She had just started work on the highway project, when a driver sped through the construction zone driving 90 to 100 kilometres an hour. The driver hit and killed Ashley.

Ashley’s death was completely avoidable, had the reckless driver adhered to the rules of driving through a construction zone. While additional safety measures have been put in place since Ashley’s death, there is still work to be done to educate and remind drivers that they need to slow down and be safe.

That is why our industry continues to advocate with stakeholders and partners to inform the general public on the importance of understanding and practicing road safety.

Adopting common sense practices when behind the wheel, such as slowing down in a construction zone, being aware of your surroundings, and paying attention to the road and not your phone, will create a safer workplace for highway construction workers.

Avoiding a life-changing tragedy by simply slowing down and paying attention should be the easiest decision any driver makes.

Have a safe summer.

by SHCA SHCA

New Guide Helps Construction Leaders Build Climate-Ready Companies

As climate change intensifies across Canada, a new report released by the Canada Climate Law Initiative (CCLI) and the Canadian Construction Association (CCA) is calling on the construction sector to embed climate resilience into their core governance. Building resilience: A guide to climate governance for Canada’s construction sector provides a practical roadmap to help industry leaders address growing climate risks across the entire construction value chain.

Cover photo of CCA's Building resilience: A guide to climate governance for Canada's construction sector publication

With nearly 30 per cent of the country’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions linked to construction, companies within Canada’s construction industry can play a significant role in addressing climate change and creating more sustainable and resilient communities.

“The construction and buildings sector holds enormous potential to drive positive change,” said Rodrigue Gilbert, CCA president. “Through effective governance, leadership and collaboration across the value chain, the sector can play a pivotal role in creating more sustainable, climate-resilient communities. From project financing and design through to construction, maintenance and renovations, each actor plays a critical role.”

While construction has always faced environmental challenges, climate change introduces more severe risks – like heatwaves, wildfires and flooding – that disrupt projects and endanger communities. The guide calls for long-term, governance-driven strategies to build resilience.

Key messages from the report include:

  • Directors and senior leadership are central to climate action. They hold significant power to ensure that climate risks and opportunities are properly considered in business decisions.
  • Climate action is a competitive advantage. By adopting long-term strategies around mitigation and adaptation, companies can lead in a changing marketplace, enhance business resilience and meet evolving client expectations.
  • A systems-level coordinated approach is essential. Projects involve many players at different stages in the life cycle – from project inception and financing to maintenance and renovations. Building climate resilience requires cross-sector coordination, continuity and shared accountability.

“Climate governance is a strategic imperative for Canadian construction companies to build sustainable and resilient businesses and communities for the future,” said Jacqueline Fitzpatrick, author of the guide and CCLI affiliated research scholar.

“Climate governance is not merely a corporate initiative – directors must be aware of their evolving fiduciary duties,” said Amee Sandhu, a volunteer climate change governance expert at CCLI as well as senior legal counsel at Alstom. “As citizens, regulators and stakeholders demand accountability, this guide provides practical insights to construction firms’ management and directors as they navigate this newly emerging area of law, ethics and business.”

Building resilience offers clear, actionable guidance tailored for construction companies of all sizes. It includes legal context, risk assessment frameworks and tools to help boards and management teams embed climate governance into their core operations. “Directors have a clear role to play in shaping the future of the industry,” said Gilbert. “This guide makes it easier for them to lead with confidence, fulfill their responsibilities and align with the transition to a low-carbon, climate-ready economy.”

Get your copy of the guide at cca-acc.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Climate-governance-report-en-Jun-25-2025.pdf.

by SHCA SHCA

More People Working in Saskatchewan Than Ever With 26,300 Full Time Jobs Added in June

Silhouetted business engineers examining blueprints at construction sites during sunset

The latest labour force numbers from Statistics Canada show that despite U.S. and Chinese tariffs, Saskatchewan continues to have the strongest labour market in Canada. Saskatchewan has the lowest unemployment rate among provinces at 4.9 per cent, which is well below the national average of 6.9 per cent. Saskatchewan added 20,500 jobs year-over-year in June.

“Saskatchewan heads into the second half of 2025 with the strongest labour market in Canada,” Deputy Premier and Immigration and Career Training Minister Jim Reiter said. “Our government is committed to maintaining this continued growth ensuring that Saskatchewan people are prepared for the jobs provided by our strong economy.”

June 2025 saw all time historical highs (aged 15 and over), with:

  • Saskatchewan Employment: 636,800
  • Saskatchewan Full-Time employment: 533,800
  • Off-Reserve Indigenous Employment: 67,900
  • Off-Reserve Indigenous Full-Time Employment: 56,500

Year-over-year, full time employment increased 26,300, an increase of 5.2 per cent. Off-reserve Indigenous employment was up 6,300, or 10.2 per cent, for the 12th consecutive month of year-over-year increases. Indigenous youth employment was up 2,200, or 21.8 per cent, for the seventh consecutive month of year-over-year increases. Women employment is up 13,200 which is an increase of 4.6 per cent, and employment for men is up 7,300 an increase of 2.2 per cent.

Saskatchewan’s two biggest cities saw impressive year-over-year growth. Compared to June 2024, Saskatoon’s employment was up 7,600, an increase of 3.8 per cent, and Regina’s employment was up 6,400, an increase of 4.4 per cent. Regina’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.9 per cent, the fifth lowest among 41 major cities in Canada, and Saskatoon’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.6 per cent, ranked fourth lowest among major cities.

Major year-over-year gains were reported for healthcare and social assistance, up 11,800, which is an increase of 12.7 per cent. Construction is up 6,500, an increase of 14.5 per cent and public administration is up 5,000, an increase of 13.6 per cent.

The province continues to see economic growth in other areas. Year-over-year, Saskatchewan ranked first among the provinces for growth in the value of building permits an increase of 31.5 per cent and second among the provinces for growth in urban housing starts, a significant increase of 211.0 per cent.

This economic growth is backed by the Government of Saskatchewan’s recently released Building the Workforce for a Growing Economy: The Saskatchewan Labour Market Strategy, a roadmap to build the workforce needed to support Saskatchewan’s strong and growing economy, and Securing the Next Decade of Growth: Saskatchewan’s Investment Attraction Strategy, a plan to increase investment in the province and to further advancing Saskatchewan’s growth plan goal of $16 billion in private capital investment annually.